Walkern
Encyclopedia
Walkern is a village and civil parish
in East Hertfordshire
. It is located on the River Beane
about two miles from Stevenage
, and is noted as the home of Jane Wenham
, who was in 1712 the last woman in England to be convicted of witchcraft. The village has several shops including Walkern Stores, a convenience store, 'The Posy Palace' a flower shop, 'Jolie' a shop that features homestyle products, 'The Brewery Tearoom' serving fine teas and cakes, a drum shop (City Music Drums), petrol station, a Christmas shop on the North side of the village and a public gallery near the White Lion public house. Other pubs include the Robin Hood and the Yew Tree which also offers Chinese cuisine. The village also features a primary school, doctors surgery, recreation ground and a range of seasonal clubs; according to the time of year there is cricket, football and many other clubs running. These function out of the 'Walkern Sports and Community Centre' towards the end of the village near the War Memorial and opposite an old mill.
Legend has it that the site for Walkern was chosen by the Devil himself, who nightly moved building materials intended for a church from nearby Boxbury. The Devil's cries of "Walk on, walk on!" are reputed to be the basis of the village's name.
The River Beane crosses the village street of Church End in a ford
, which is overlooked by the medieval thatch-roofed cottage of Bridgefoot Farm. St Mary's Church (i.e. St Mary the Virgin), the oldest Hertfordshire village church, whose foundations date back to Anglo-Saxon time (the building of it commenced 1042, 24 years before the Norman Conquest in 1066), looms over the scenery.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in East Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire is a local government district in Hertfordshire, England. Its council has offices in Bishop's Stortford and Hertford ....
. It is located on the River Beane
River Beane
The River Beane is a tributary of the River Lea. It rises to the south-west of Sandon, Hertfordshire in the hills northeast of Stevenage in Hertfordshire....
about two miles from Stevenage
Stevenage
Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
, and is noted as the home of Jane Wenham
Jane Wenham
Jane Wenham was the subject of what is commonly but erroneously regarded as the last witch trial in England. The trial took place in 1712 and was reported widely in printed tracts of the period, notably F...
, who was in 1712 the last woman in England to be convicted of witchcraft. The village has several shops including Walkern Stores, a convenience store, 'The Posy Palace' a flower shop, 'Jolie' a shop that features homestyle products, 'The Brewery Tearoom' serving fine teas and cakes, a drum shop (City Music Drums), petrol station, a Christmas shop on the North side of the village and a public gallery near the White Lion public house. Other pubs include the Robin Hood and the Yew Tree which also offers Chinese cuisine. The village also features a primary school, doctors surgery, recreation ground and a range of seasonal clubs; according to the time of year there is cricket, football and many other clubs running. These function out of the 'Walkern Sports and Community Centre' towards the end of the village near the War Memorial and opposite an old mill.
Legend has it that the site for Walkern was chosen by the Devil himself, who nightly moved building materials intended for a church from nearby Boxbury. The Devil's cries of "Walk on, walk on!" are reputed to be the basis of the village's name.
The River Beane crosses the village street of Church End in a ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
, which is overlooked by the medieval thatch-roofed cottage of Bridgefoot Farm. St Mary's Church (i.e. St Mary the Virgin), the oldest Hertfordshire village church, whose foundations date back to Anglo-Saxon time (the building of it commenced 1042, 24 years before the Norman Conquest in 1066), looms over the scenery.